By this time, you will probably have heard that the bid submitted by Hamilton for the 2010 Commonwealth Games does not include track cycling. After we published a report on this situation, individuals and cycling federations from around the world submitted letters to the organizers, asking them to reconsider. Since then, the organizers have said that they will consider adding track cycling, but there is still no firm commitment. We feel that it is important to keep up the pressure on the Bid, and have started a petition, to be presented to the Bid Committee on February 17th.

Click on the petition button at the top of the page and add you name to the many who already have done so.

Tour d'Afrique

The inaugural race set out from the shadow of the pyramids in Egypt on January 18th. 34 riders including organizers Henry Gold and Michael de Jong will attempt to reach Cape Town South Africa, a journey of 10,500-kilometer (6,600-miles) in 100 days.

There are many Canadians on this trip and David Auger sent the following message:

Greetings from David Auger to all my friends in Canada. I am in Luxor now after many days in the desert along the Red Sea. Yesterday, we crossed a mountain range - not too steep but very windy. Today we were near the Nile and things were definitely greener. There were lots of palm trees and market gardens. There were also thousands of people, especially children waving and yelling hello as if we were celebrities. There is a lot of security from the Egyptian government. So we feel quite safe.

Camping is very basic - tenting right in the desert. There are no facilities whatsoever.

It has been quite cold at night and about 16 to18 ?C during the day - fairly cloudy. Today, I had my first shower since starting - it sure felt good!

I will be doing laundry and visiting the Valley of the Kings tomorrow before starting off again.

The Greater Dallas Bicyclists are holding their annual Rally, the Lancaster Country Ride on April 12, 2003.

There are routes of 26, 45 and 63 miles. They traverse a variety of terrain, from flats to rolling hills. In April, the bluebonnets are exploding in the area, and the longer routes take you through beautiful bluebonnet fields called Bluebonnet Trail.

The organizers extend a warm and sincere invitation to our friends in Canada and other states.

Contact Michael Lovas or Mark O'Leary, the ride coordinator with any questions.

More information:

Mark: LijeCalvin@aol.comMichael: michael@aboutpeople.comFee: early registration: $15 (until April 2)Fee: late registration: $20 (after April 2)First 500 registered riders get a Free pair of Cycling Socks!Registration will soon be available at the website

46,000 miles on a Bike for Peace

Iranian bicyclist Reza Khoshvravesh Baluchi left Iran by bicycle on a mission of peace 46,000 miles and nearly 5 years later he is in a US detention centre in Arizona.

Some of the above information is in dispute, but it makes for an interesting story.